The New York Knicks have been fined $25,000 for tampering because of team President Phil Jackson's comments about Oklahoma City Thunder guard and potential coaching candidate Derek Fisher, NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed Monday.

Jackson brought up his former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Friday in an interview session with New York media members.

"The last two summers, Derek and I have talked about the next step in his career," Jackson said, according to Newsday. "So I kind of know what he wants to do, and his feelings. He's got family in L.A. He's got little kids still in L.A. I have no idea if he wants to move his family and come here. Those are things that he would have to express. There are so many unknowns."

The league does not allow executives and coaches to comment on other teams' players and upcoming free agency. These scenarios are more common in dealing with free agency but became a more complicated issue here because Fisher's Thunder made the Western Conference finals while the Knicks and Lakers are deep in head-coaching searches.

The Knicks are trying to replace Mike Woodson, who was fired after a 37-45 season. Jackson took over the franchise in March and is expected to consider candidates he has worked with in the past.

Fisher, who served as president of the National Basketball Players Association during the 2011 lockout and widely is considered a strong leader, has been deliberate in keeping his post-playing options open. As lucrative as a head coaching job would surely be, Fisher — who is also known to have an interest in front-office work — admitted recently that he must be willing to attack his next job with the same dedication he was known for as a player.

"I think you have to want to do anything you decide to do that requires the type of time and effort that coaching requires," Fisher told USA TODAY Sports on May 19. "You go through your process at the appropriate time, and then you decide from there."